You get back from a long and fruitful 5-mile run. You feel the adrenaline rush, you breathe easier, and your body feels great. You end your day with a good meal and a good night’s sleep, only to wake up with your body aching the next day. 

Sometimes, our body signals tell us we need to rest more and relax. This happens even to seasoned runners. CBD might be something to look into as part of your Recovery process if you’re thinking of adding Muscle relaxants that don’t come with a laundry list of chemicals and side effects. 

While over-the-counter (OTC) medications or prescription pills can do the job, they provide a quick fix for incidental stiffness or short-term relief for muscle soreness. These pills or OTC medications taken over the long term can have dangerous reactions down the road. 

CBD can be a natural way to treat sore and stiff muscles since it is one of the main active ingredients in cannabis. It may be an effective natural muscle relaxant that does more than mask away from the pain and any symptoms.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the 100 chemical compounds found in cannabis plants. This includes marijuana and industrial hemp. CBD does not contain THC, the psychoactive component found in marijuana that produces a high. The usual CBD formulation comes in oil, vaporized liquid, oil-based liquid or an extract.

How Much CBD Can I Use?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the use of CBD. In fact, regulations of how much a product can contain CBD and possession of CBD varies from state to state. For instance, Texas cannabis laws state that a doctor’s recommendation is required for the legal possession and use of low-THC CBD oil. Therefore, it’s always best to consult a doctor who has experience working with CBD and knowledge of CBD to determine your ideal dosage as well as the method of consumption based on the issue you like to treat. 

It’ll also helpful to read dosing guidelines from the CBD products you purchase. Most CBD manufacturers provide dosing guidelines for their products, giving you an excellent base to start when you’re using CBD for the first time. Remember that CBD is a subjective chemical with different reactions in different people. How much CBD you use also depends on how long your body takes to feel its effects.  

Here’s how CBD can help in mobility and muscle function:

As a Muscle Relaxant

Muscle contraction happens when communication between the various neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS). These signals travel to the different muscles in the body to trigger a contraction. Inflammation happens when there is an influx of excessive chemical messengers. This results in the muscles contracting continuously. Using CBD helps to engage the enzymes and the hormones in the body, changing how the receptors function and resulting in less inflammation.

To Help Ease Muscle Soreness

CBD has been found to be a powerful painkiller. CBD can offer symptomatic support for muscle injuries and aid in post-exercise recovery. By applying CBD oil or balm on your joints or muscles during your recovery days, you’ll find it easier to get back into action faster. You’ll also find it more comfortable between exercises.

To Sooth Muscle Tension

Tension in the muscles surrounding the area where you’re experiencing pain can worsen your injuries. This is why muscle relaxants are popular during the recovery process because they can alleviate pain. CBD as a supportive agent can ease muscle tension and pain following an injury or rigorous working, only with less risk of side effects.

It May Help Reduce Inflammation

The most critical role that CBD plays in the process of muscle recovery is reducing inflammation. If you have an injury post-working, the best thing to do immediately is to apply ice in the area. Icing helps improve recovery times and provides quick relief to sore muscles.  

That said, the inflammation process is vital in recovery. The inflammation process after an injury helps the muscle fibers that are damaged to recover. It brings in more blood flow to the area and delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to speed up recovery. This increased blood flow also helps clean out any cellular debris, damaged protein, and by-products of muscle contraction, such as lactic acid. 

When there is an injury or post-workout muscle damage, this often involves a specific muscle area. When there is inflammation, the stimulation of stem cells increases in the damaged area, allowing the muscle to turn into new muscle fibers, leading to faster recovery and a speedier return of strength to the muscles. However, the inflammatory process affects a greater region of muscles and joints that aren’t even affected. This inflammatory response can cause damage to other muscles and joints, leading to a slower recovery process. This is why it is advised to use ice to treat the areas where you have an injury because reducing inflammation reduces the damage caused to nearby joint tissues and muscles. 

Athletes usually use ice immediately after a workout or use NSAID medications such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin to decrease the inflammation of muscle soreness. When you do use CBD, in this instance, it can help to reduce any unwanted and unhelpful inflammation without affecting the benefits of the recovery process. 

CBD can alleviate inflammation in the muscle tissues without affecting the recovery times. It plays an essential role in activating new muscle recovery and cell regeneration, thus significantly impacting our ability to recover faster.

How Can I Use CBD in My Recovery Process?

CBD can be found in oil, balm, tinctures, locations, capsules, vape pens, and even edibles. Some even come in the form of a lotion to efficiently distribute and spread around the body. How you choose to use CBD depends on what areas you have a muscle injury. You also need to decide if you prefer ingesting it or rubbing it for relief. Speaking to your doctor can help you identify which method of CBD administration works for you.

Once you feel you have desired effect, you don’t need to increase its dose. Just use the same amount as you would every day and administer it in the same spot each time. If you’re worried about its effects, speak to your doctor to find the best ways to use CBD and what dosage is safe for you. Try CBD for a few weeks and tweak the dosage a few weeks to see what works best for you. Once you find the suitable delivery method and dosage, you’ll be on the road to recovery in no time.